I’ve been ill for the last month and it’s honestly ridiculous at this stage. I was not aware that a cough could evolve and take on as many personalities as it has. I’m currently in the phase where there’s no phlegm left to cough up and my back aches as I drily hack away. Anyway, I figured it was time to get back on the posting train and do a lil post on my favorite lip colors for the autumn.

As you can see, lots of browns! I feel like the internet has been inundated with 90s trends, including brown lips, for the last year or so, and I’m still very much into the look. A couple things about the above picture first, though– I’d like to assure you that I am not as pale as the photo seems, and several of the shades are more matte than as pictured. The strange morning lighting did things, needless to say.

A rundown of my ten autumn lip shades– first is Milani’s Matte Naked. I found this lipstick earlier on in the school year, when my summer tan was still around, and the cool pinky-purple was far too light for me then. I kept it because the formula was so creamy and comfortable yet still matte. Now that winter has robbed me of color, it’s a perfect nude. I then have Colourpop’s Bumble, one of their bestselling shades, which is a beautiful rose that I want to wear every single day. Colourpop’s Wild Nothing is part of their newly released holiday collection (I may do a holiday version of this post as the season approaches), and is a plummy brown in the most gorgeous matte packaging. I expected the color to be much more nude judging by the website swatches, but I’m happy with it. It’s not as dark on my lips as it is on my arm. (I tried to do lip swatches, but it really was quite the disaster. I’ll figure it out sometime.) The one shade that is vastly different from the rest is Revlon’s Cherries in the Snow. This bright fuschia was actually one of the first lipsticks I ever owned, and it’s seen many seasons and locations with me. I’ll likely include it in my holiday lips post.

Moving on to the browns, Colourpop Grunge is a greyish-purplish brown which definitely makes a statement. Part of the “Matte” line, it’s more of a satin finish but can be made more matte if blotted. Colourpop Ziggie is a warmer terracotta brown in the Matte X finish, and it’s great with any warm-toned eye look, which I usually do with the Juvia’s Place Nubian Palette. Colourpop’s Love Bug is a deeper version of this color but reads more reddish on my lips. Be forewarned, the formula of this one is very dry, so I’d suggest a good layer of balm before application. Rounding out the browns is Bite’s Almond, a mahogany shade that can be used all over the face. It’s a beautiful satin formula that has quickly become one of my ultimate favorites. If I had more money to squander, Bite would be getting a good chunk of it.

These last two shades are darks, for the days when it’s a hair too chilly to really be fall and one’s heart is pierced by the cold. On days like this, the outside is too vicious for conversation, and you need a dark lip to tell people that you don’t got time for talking because you’re just that fierce. Maybelline’s Smoking Red is a nice deep red with brownish undertones that elevates any outfit while still feeling a smidge festive. The formula is very longwearing but I’d suggest a lipliner to prevent feathering, which can happen with this lipstick. For the days where you really aren’t feeling it, go for Colourpop’s Creature, a dark, nearly black oxblood. The color can be built up to be darker and darker until you lose yourself in it. Honestly, vanishing on account of a dark lipstick doesn’t sound half bad.

There’s my picks for autumn lip colors! I’ve been wearing these on rotation, and you should too!